Under President Faure Gnassingbé, Togo has made social security a cornerstone of its national development strategy.

This commitment has driven a silent yet profound shift, moving from initial safety nets toward a comprehensive system of universal protection.

A recent, large-scale cash transfer program marks the latest step in this clear trajectory—one built on inclusion, dignity, and rigorous impact assessment.

The country’s approach is guided by a central principle: protecting the most vulnerable while securing the productive forces of the nation.

This vision frames human development as the essential foundation for economic and social stability.

Building Blocks of a Social Architecture

This philosophy is translating into measurable outcomes across key sectors:

Universal Health Insurance (UHI): A cornerstone of the system, UHI now covers over 4.4 million people.

A decisive expansion in October extended coverage to nearly 3 million informal-sector workers, a group long excluded from traditional health coverage.

Education and Nutrition: Nationwide, 41 million school meals have been served to combat hunger, reduce dropouts, and improve academic performance.

This effort is bolstered by the distribution of school kits to 100,000 girls, promoting equal opportunity and female retention in schools.

Maternal and Early Childhood Protection: The WEZOU programme has provided over 4 million services, significantly reducing the health and financial risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Economic Inclusion: The National Fund for Inclusive Finance (FNFI) has mobilized CFAF 117 billion for nearly 2 million beneficiaries, supporting entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.

These efforts are complemented by input credit schemes for farmers, crucial for food security and rural stability.

Driven by this mix of public policies and innovative mechanisms like the Novissi digital cash transfer program, Togo's model is yielding results.

National poverty has declined by more than eight percentage points, and the country has progressed from "low" to "medium" human development status.

Cash Transfers: A New Pillar of Household Resilience

It is within this established continuum that Togo launched its new national cash transfer programme on Thursday, December 19. The initiative targets 700,000 vulnerable households across the country.

Backed by an initial allocation of CFAF 3.5 billion, the program provides a transfer of CFAF 25,000 per household. Funds are delivered through secure digital channels to ensure transparency, speed, and dignity for beneficiaries.

More than a short-term response, the programme is a strategic building block designed to strengthen household resilience to economic shocks and support empowerment—particularly for women and youth.

Its rigorous targeting and alignment with existing programs confirm a strategic direction embraced at the highest level of government, where social security is viewed as a structural investment in social peace and sustainable growth.

As many countries in the sub-region seek to strengthen their social protection systems, Togo’s experience demonstrates that consistent, complementary, and carefully measured policies can deliver structural results.

The rollout of cash transfers for 700,000 households crowns a clear trajectory: that of a nation that has chosen to place its people at the very heart of its development.